Hannah Cockroft warns rivals that she's still getting stronger and faster. GETTY IMAGES

Hannah Cockroft said she is "getting faster and stronger” as she declared she has no plans to retire after the Paris Paralympics. The wheelchair racer has dominated the women’s T34 classification for over a decade after her London 2012 debut which earned her two golds and two Paralympic records.

"I 100 per cent think I’m the one to beat, in the least big-headed way," the seven-time champion told the PA news agency. 



Cockroft is preparing to represent Team GB at her fourth Paralympics looking to add to her haul of seven gold medals —just four short of the 11 won by Britain's most successful wheelchair racer, Baroness Grey-Thompson. While she is “hyper-aware” of the pressure on her shoulders, she is confident of her current standing, just coming off winning the 15th and 16th world titles in Kobe, Japan last May. 

"I am number one in the world, I have retained that title since 2018. And it's scary; I am so hyper-aware of the fact the target's on my back. But that's what keeps me going. I'm never satisfied, I'm never happy with any race that's not a fast time,” she said. 

The 32-year-old said she’s still improving and wants to stay on top. Her strategy involves laying the groundwork now to carry her through the road ahead. 

"I’m still getting quicker, I’m still getting stronger, everything’s still going in the right direction, so there’s no reason for me to step out now. There’s not a single thought in my head that this could be the last – unless something goes terribly wrong,” she declared. 

The Paris Paralympic Games begin on 28 August at 20:00 CEST.